5Places in Japan to Enjoy Summer Music Festivals

School’s out for summer. That means it’s music festival time in Japan. As the heat builds up following the end of the rainy season, some of the world’s hottest acts will be playing at venues across the nation.

The diverse array of artists this year ranges from U.S. thrash metal legends Megadeth and Canadian leftfield multi-instrumentalists Arcade Fire to Japan’s cute metal dance act Babymetal and the girls of fluffy idol group AeLL., giving one of their last shows. It’s an artistic combination unlikely to be matched anywhere else in the world over the coming months.

Here is a list of the top 5 upcoming festivals in Japan.

24 Jul 2014 10:57pm

By

Jun Hongo

1Fuji Rock Festival ’14 (July 25-27)

The summer festival season kicks off with Fuji Rock at the Naeba Ski Resort in the mountains of Niigata prefecture, featuring performances by Franz Ferdinand, Lorde, Manic Street Preachers, Outkast and hundreds of other artists. The event last year attracted 111,000 music fans, including 17,000 campers.

2Tokyo Idol Festival 2014 (Aug. 2-3)

A total of 136 idol groups will perform at the fifth installment of the Tokyo Idol Festival taking place at multiple venues in Tokyo’s Odaiba area. Last year’s event had a turnout of 33,000 people. The main artists this year include Tokyo Performance Doll, Smileage, Sakura Gakuin and HKT 48.

3Rock in Japan Festival 2014 (Aug. 2-3, 9-10)

When in Japan, do as the Japanese do and enjoy some of the best J-Rock there is today. The Rock in Japan Festival takes place at Hitachinaka in Ibaraki prefecture over two consecutive weekends in early August. Attendance at last year’s three-day event was 177,000. The artist roster this year includes Maximum the Hormone, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Sekai no Owari and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.

4Summer Sonic 2014 (Aug. 16-17)

Summer Sonic is an urban music festival for those unwilling to make the long trips to summer festivals out of town. The huge event is staged in Tokyo and Osaka at venues just a train ride away from the heart of the two cities. Last year’s attendance was 230,000, according to the organizers. Performing this year are the Arctic Monkeys, the Pixies, Avenged Sevenfold and Kraftwerk. For classic rockers, Robert Plant and Queen will provide the power chords.

5Tokyo Jazz Festival (Sept. 5-7)

Some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians will perform in Tokyo later in the summer at the Tokyo Jazz Festival. Featured artists include storied pianist Ahmad Jamal and longtime Tokyo Jazz collaborator Herbie Hancock. Chaka Khan and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will add a touch of mainstream R&B to temper the intensity.